PERHAPS Jim Sillars’s “facts” (Letters, June 26) would benefit from a few balancing truths.

Truth 1: Doesn’t “losing” a referendum based on half-truths, lies and hyperbole say more about referendums as a democratic instrument than expressing the will of a people?

Truth 2: The Vow being a “lie never intended to be implemented” is full justification right there for re-running a plebiscite, should we want one.

Truth 3: The majority of the electorate, 54%, did NOT express any will to retain the status quo and Westminster’s sovereignty over us. Given the Westminster government’s shambolic mishandling of the Brexit process, surely the imperative now is to test Scottish will again? In any case, even by Mr Sillars’s political standards, Scotland voted to remain within the EU; our will fettered by Westminster and ignored.

Truth 4: The Sewell legal challenge to the Supreme Court was a gambit in an attempt to halt a grievous political mishap. Its failure has no effect on the legitimacy of the campaign for self-determination through independence.

Truth 5: Whether Scotland’s currently devolved powers are not being removed is irrelevant. The Scotland Act 1998 clearly provides for all powers not specifically reserved in the Act to be devolved. To unilaterally retain repatriated powers, even for a proscribed period, must be inherently illegal. With these powers retained by Westminster to develop the UK’s internal market framework, once that framework is established – the Scottish Parliament having had no say in its formulation – those powers will effectively have been lost forever as long as Scotland remains within the UK Union.

Truth 6: Precisely what are the “large” number of additional powers that are being “given” to Holyrood which are not its own by right? Forgive my scepticism, but haven’t we all experienced Westminster’s “largesse” to Scotland? Scottish minority representation in Westminster is ineffective in protecting us from the historic “benevolence” of the diktats of UK Governments of all political persuasions.

Truth 7: If the Brexiting Tory government refuses to allow the devolved nations their rightful place at the Brexit negotiating table, how can we trust Mr Sillars’s belief that Westminster would agree to consult, far less pay heed to, Scotland’s government concerning the repatriated powers it retained?

Truth 8: Scotland is no stranger to being an “insignificant” part of a bigger union. The difference with the EU is that we will have an independent voice in the decision-making process, rather than being ignored by the UK. And it will herald a future of peace within Europe, comradeship and the platform for our children to venture forward and prosper, ambassadors for our Scottish identity; a fitting prospectus going forward for an ambitious nation.

Both the Scottish independence and Brexit referendums prove they are an inadequate democratic instrument. In both, the debates were an inaccurate nonsense, wrapped in a tissue of lies and exaggeration. Doesn’t it beggar belief that knowing this, an experienced politician like Mr Sillars could possibly accept their validity as a democratic instrument that should write in tablets of stone a course of action so fundamentally precarious and considered by so many to be detrimental to the economic wellbeing of our nation? The pound falling by 15%, the slowest growth of the top economies, and myriad large employers like Airbus etc giving clear warnings of loss of future investment that will cost jobs, just a few of the indicators.

Truth 10: Parliament is supposed to be sovereign in our “democracy”. Isn’t the real democratic deficit that a poorly constructed, discredited referendum is being allowed to emasculate the sovereign power of our elected representatives? How is this in any way democratic?

Doesn’t it seem that the only solution to the UK shambles is for all decisions about Scotland to be taken in Holyrood?

Jim Taylor
Edinburgh

I noted with dismay Jim Sillars Leave stance (Letters, June 26), and his comments surrounding it. The way it read, it's almost as if he'd sacrifice his ambitions for our country due to the strength of his disdain for the EU and what it stands for.

While many of his itemised facts are correct as stated, it must be argued that number 6 is blatantly erroneous, as the competencies devolved at Holyrood are being taken away (allegedly temporarily).

The fact that they were previously devolved to Brussels is irrelevant, for this occurred before the restoration of the Scots Parliament. These areas of legislative purview were agreed as a devolved competency, therefore they should transfer directly to Edinburgh. The fact that they're being "grabbed in transit" speaks volumes as to Westminster's intent.

Under "Fact 9", there is a description of "free-trade zones", yet these too are Westminster's gift, or not. 

We too could plan for them, but without independence it's unlikely they'll materialise. Right now, we belong the greatest "free-trade zone" on the planet, it's called the EU.

As to Theresa May having no record of seeking to trash Scottish devolution, she leads that party which is currently bent on upsetting those powers, and the underpinnings of devolution. There is clearly no "respect agenda" when our MP's are told to "suicide".

The EU is far from perfect. The Franco-German alliance is, bluntly, disturbing. However, Germany's in a different position within the EU than we are within the UK, for all other nations in the EU have a veto on what could be German or French policy they might wish to expand to become continent-wide.

A Scotland within the EU can alter much. It can be a progressive, respected voice.

A Scotland on its fringes, or subsumed to Westminster's will, can do nothing.

Within the EU, voting blocks do form. They shape policy.

Next year, France and Germany together will have 175 of the 705 MEPs in the EU parliament. This leaves them more than 175 votes short of "ramming anything through".

Scotland could become part of that progressive alliance, with a veto.

We could also do as Norway, forcing us to pay in, accept diktat, bow, beg and scrape for policy adjustments or exemptions, pretty much where we are now with respect to Westminster. The EU might not bray at our MEPs.

We could "go it alone", and world trade tariffs would apply, it would be the cliff edge Brexit, or Scexit, which we might just be too small to survive, that on top of the requirements of our nation assuming the underpinnings of statehood.

Our last option, a virtual poison pill, would be to keep the status quo, allowing Westminster to continue to speak for us, this when London looks set to do a TTIP deal with the USA after much of the rest of Europe's people breathed a sigh of relief when the Belgians stopped the one at EU level. If in any doubt that's coming, simply look to the repatriated powers being "grabbed". Goodbye NHS, for the American's corporate interests will sue to effectively dismantle it.

Truly, the EU in so many ways is utterly deficient, yet in today's world it is also and so very clearly by far the "least worst" option to Scotland that's currently available.

And it's one that can't wait until "we're out!"

A McGregor
East Kilbride